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View Full Version : The Return of the Coupe to NASCAR?


Sean Malone
11-02-09, 11:19 AM
Saw this on a Chrysler watchdog website I frequent. Penske is entering a new Dodge Challenger in 4 races next year in the Nationwide series. Being NASCAR illiterate, isn't the Nationwide series what used to be the Busch series?

NASCAR barbs aside, it's rather refreshing to see a front end of a 'stocker' actually look like the front end of the production car.

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2009/10/dodge-rolls-out-penske-racing-challenger

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7687/racechallenger.th.jpg (http://img402.imageshack.us/i/racechallenger.jpg/)
pchall
11-02-09, 01:46 PM
NASCAR barbs aside, it's rather refreshing to see a front end of a 'stocker' actually look like the front end of the production car.

So the grill and lights looks ealistic for the first time in maybe thirty years? I'm sure it still the same old NASCRAP underneath the pretty skin.
Steve99
11-02-09, 03:39 PM
Nationwide is the ex-Busch series, and they are transitioning to new cars, so all the teams will be switching to something new full-time in '11.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/nationwide/news/story?id=4611753
Sean Malone
11-02-09, 03:44 PM
Nationwide is the ex-Busch series, and they are transitioning to new cars, so all the teams will be switching to something new full-time in '11.
http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/nationwide/news/story?id=4611753

If Nationwide Series consisted of Challengers, Camaro's and Mustangs that actually resembled their production siblings it would be the smartest thing NASCAR has done in 40 years. It will never happen though because it would overtake Sprint Cup in popularity in it's first year.
SteveH
11-02-09, 04:11 PM
Wouldn't it be great if a reborn TransAm consisted of Camaro, Mustang and Challenger?

All of them kicking the snot out of Gentilozzi's Jaguar. ;)
Sean Malone
11-02-09, 04:17 PM
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/6429/3ponies.jpg

Looks pretty cool to me. :)

Link (http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2009/10/challenger-to-face-off-against-camaro-and-mustang-on-sunday)
SteveH
11-02-09, 05:48 PM
Looks pretty cool to me. :)

Link (http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2009/10/challenger-to-face-off-against-camaro-and-mustang-on-sunday)

indeed :thumbup:
Steve99
11-02-09, 10:27 PM
http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/6429/3ponies.jpg

Looks pretty cool to me. :)

Link (http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/2009/10/challenger-to-face-off-against-camaro-and-mustang-on-sunday)

It's Grand Am though; they'll find some way to screw it up.
Sean Malone
11-02-09, 10:36 PM
It's Grand Am though; they'll find some way to screw it up.

No doubt about it. But for a fleeting moment in time, there is a modern version of the old Challenger/Mustang/Camaro and for these old makes not to be racing in some fashion against each other is a travesty!
pchall
11-02-09, 11:08 PM
It's Grand Am though; they'll find some way to screw it up.

Too bad they chose to revive the Challenger. I'd rather see a 'cuda on the track.
Sean Malone
11-02-09, 11:13 PM
Too bad they chose to revive the Challenger. I'd rather see a 'cuda on the track.

As an old die hard mopar head I do believe that the Hemi 'cuda edges out the Challenger in the 'mythical muscle car' department, but since Plymouth is no more they decided on the Challenger. If I recall correctly, the Challenger toped the 'cuda in sales too. I saw a picture recently of an after market company that has a 'cuda kit for the new Challenger that looks really cool!
NismoZ
11-03-09, 10:47 AM
And Donohue qualified 13th, had the car up to 3rd when he handed over to Bucknum who lost the clutch with about an hour to go.:(
datachicane
11-03-09, 11:51 AM
The Challenger looks like a Winnebago parked next to the other two.
Mopar aimed at Challenger but hit Charger. :saywhat:
Sean Malone
11-03-09, 11:57 AM
The Challenger looks like a Winnebago parked next to the other two.
Mopar aimed at Challenger but hit Charger. :saywhat:

Yeah, I wish they would have scaled it down a bit. The Camaro has pretty much the same foot print but is lower. The Challenger is built on the Charger/300 platform which may be why they kept it big. Although, the original Challenger was a big car too. The Camaro and Mustang reflect back to their late 60's ancestors while the Challenger was designed after a '71. Luckily Ford hasn't gone down that path.:yuck:
datachicane
11-03-09, 12:02 PM
It's not like Mopar had much choice in designing it after the '71- Challengers were only built from '70-'74, and there was only one body (I'm not counting the Mitsus). They were bigger than other ponycars then, too, but not to this extent. Total sled, IMHO.
Sean Malone
11-03-09, 12:17 PM
It's not like Mopar had much choice in designing it after the '71- Challengers were only built from '70-'74, and there was only one body (I'm not counting the Mitsus). They were bigger than other ponycars then, too, but not to this extent. Total sled, IMHO.

Right. The E bodies (70 to 74 Challengers and 'cuda's) were one chassis but the styling cues (front and rear treatments) differed from year to year. The 71 is considered to be the best model of the 4 years as the 72-74 were too bogged down with emissions and their styling treatments were not as aggressive in appearance.

As for the new Challenger, the reviews I've been reading say that the 5.7 is kind of a slouch compared to the Mustang, but I haven't seen one magazine put the 6.1 through it's paces.